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Infiniti Logo

Infiniti is Japanese Nissan Motor's ( Now part of French autogiant Renault) luxury automobile brand in the United States, Canadian, Middle Eastern, South Korean and Taiwanese markets. Nissan also has plans to release Infiniti into many European markets as well as in Japanese market in the coming years.

Infiniti vehicles are traditionally based on the same automobile platform as Nissan models. In some cases, similar vehicles are sold as upscale Nissans in the same market, while other Infinitis are rebadged models from the Japanese market, where Nissan's model range includes high-end luxury vehicles. More recently, the differentiation between Nissan and Infiniti vehicles has become greater, and even where two models may share a similar platform, Infinitis tend to feature more powerful engines, tuned suspensions, steering systems, and more luxurious interior appointments.

Infiniti's model name designation includes one letter for coupes and sedans (two letters for SUVs) and a number reflecting engine displacement. For example, the QX56 is an SUV featuring a 5.6 L engine and the Q45 is Infiniti's flagship sedan, featuring a 4.5 L engine. The one exception to this was the QX4 SUV, which featured a 3.2 L engine (1997-2000) and later a 3.5 L engine (2001-2003). An 'x' following the engine displacement of Infiniti sedans denotes an all wheel drive model.

History

Infiniti was introduced in the United States by Nissan in 1989, to rival Toyota and Honda's introduction of their own luxury brands, Lexus and Acura, respectively. A series of Zen-inspired advertisements, which became known as the "rocks and trees" campaign, aimed to bring about brand awareness. The advertisements, however, neglected to feature any of Infiniti's models, and thus failed to generate adequate sales. Better advertising and the introduction of award-winning models eventually made Infiniti a chief contender in the luxury vehicle segment of the American market. Since 1989, sales have consistently grown.

Infiniti began to take part of the luxury market mostly thanks to its popular Q45. The vehicle included a class leading (at the time) 278 hp (207 kW)V8 engine, four-wheel steering, the first active suspension system offered on a motor vehicle, and numerous interior luxury appointments. These made it competitive against the comparatively uninspiring engines and interiors found in German imports like BMW and Mercedes-Benz, which by the time of Infiniti's release had overtaken Cadillac and Lincoln in dominating the luxury segment of the American market.

In 1997, Infiniti released the QX4, a modified and more luxurious version of the Nissan Pathfinder, making Infiniti the first maker (apart from SUV specialists, Jeep and Land Rover) to offer a mid-sized luxury SUV - predating the release of the Lexus RX 300 and the Mercedes-Benz ML320. Like a traditional SUV, it was based on a truck platform, which gave it a competetive edge against the aforementioned competitors for its off-roading abilities.

By the late 1990s, however, Infiniti was consistently behind Lexus and even struggling Acura in sales. The Q45 had retreated considerably from its focused, taut rendition of a executive sedan, having become a barely recognizable, ponderously-handling sedan that earned the nickname "The Japanese Lincoln." Infiniti's other offerings, the Maxima-based I30 and the strange-looking J30 never garnered strong followings, and the company, bereft of an image or a following, floundered.

By the early 2000s, Infiniti was facing extinction. Its own impending doom being perhaps the best motivator, the company rededicated itself to developing a dynamic and powerful line-up of sporty luxury cars. Car and Driver reported that Infiniti executives invited members of the motoring press to a meeting where they "swore never again to take their eyes off BMW." Although this effort began with a completely redisigned Q45 flagship for the 2002 model year, it was the G35 that finally turned sales around for Infiniti in 2003. A compact sports sedan far exceeding the capabilities of its Nissan Primera-based predecessor (the G20), the G35 became an instant hit. The release of the sport tuned FX45 sport utility vehicle piggybacked on the G35's success. The FX45 combined sports-car handling and performance with station wagon-like versatility and all-weather capability.

Today, Infiniti's sales and reputation continue to increase impressively as Carlos Ghosn follows through on his vision to break Infiniti away from its Nissan roots. The G35 series helped re-define Infiniti as the "Japanese BMW", an image it continues to cultivate. This reputation has been enhanced by the FX35/FX45 SUV, and the redesigned M35/M45 for the 2006 model year. The M35/M45 has already garnered impressive acclaim from the automotive press, winning an eight-car comparison test in Car and Driver, and has proven very popular in its first few months of sales.

Models

Current models

Infiniti FX (FX35 and FX45 variations)
Infiniti G35 (sedan, AWD sedan, and coupe derivations)
Infiniti M (M35/M35x and M45 variations)
Infiniti Q45
Infiniti QX56

Past models

Infiniti M30
Infiniti G20
Infiniti J30
Infiniti I (I30, 1996-2001; I35, 2002-2004)
Infiniti QX4

Future Models and Concept Vehicles

Infiniti Kuraza (concept vehicle, no current plans for production)

External links

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 In [[1997]], Infiniti released the QX4, a modified and more luxurious version of the [[Nissan Pathfinder]], making Infiniti the first maker (apart from SUV specialists, [[Jeep]] and [[Land Rover]]) to offer a mid-sized luxury SUV - predating the release of the [[Lexus RX|Lexus RX 300]] and the [[Mercedes-Benz ML-Class|Mercedes-Benz ML320]].  Like a traditional SUV, it was based on a truck platform, which gave it a competetive edge against the aforementioned competitors for its off-roading abilities.
-By the late 1990s, however, Infiniti was consistently behind [[Lexus]] and even struggling [[Acura]] in sales.  The Q45 had retreated considerably from its focused, taut rendition of a executive sedan, having become a barely recognizable, ponderously-handling sedan that earned the nickname "The Japanese Lincoln."  Infiniti's other offerings, the Maxima-based I30 and the strange-looking M30 never garnered strong followings, and the company floundered.
+By the late 1990s, however, Infiniti was consistently behind [[Lexus]] and even struggling [[Acura]] in sales.  The Q45 had retreated considerably from its focused, taut rendition of a executive sedan, having become a barely recognizable, ponderously-handling sedan that earned the nickname "The Japanese Lincoln."  Infiniti's other offerings, the Maxima-based I30 and the strange-looking J30 never garnered strong followings, and the company, bereft of an image or a following, floundered.
-In the early [[2000]]s, Infiniti began to increase the output of its engines and overhaul its product lineup with new models and more exciting designs as part of the efforts of new senior management at Nissan to increase Infiniti sales.  [[Car and Driver]] reported that Infiniti executives invited members of the motoring press to a meeting where they "swore never again to take their eyes off BMW."  Although this effort began with a completely redisigned Q45 for the [[2002]] model year, sales figures did not see an increase until the introduction of the G35, a sports sedan far exceeding the capabilities of it's unrelated, Nissan Primera-based predecessor, the G20.  The release of the sport tuned FX45 sport utility vehicle piggybacked on the G35's success, and the FX combined sports-car handling and performance with station wagon-like versatility and all-weather capability.
+By the early [[2000]]s, Infiniti was facing extinction.  Its own impending doom being perhaps the best motivator, the company rededicated itself to developing a dynamic and powerful line-up of sporty luxury cars.  [[Car and Driver]] reported that Infiniti executives invited members of the motoring press to a meeting where they "swore never again to take their eyes off BMW."  Although this effort began with a completely redisigned Q45 flagship for the [[2002]] model year, it was the G35 that finally turned sales around for Infiniti in [[2003]].  A compact sports sedan far exceeding the capabilities of its Nissan Primera-based predecessor (the G20), the G35 became an instant hit.  The release of the sport tuned FX45 sport utility vehicle piggybacked on the G35's success.  The FX45 combined sports-car handling and performance with station wagon-like versatility and all-weather capability.
-Today, Infiniti's sales and reputation continue to increase impressively as Carlos Ghosn follows through on his vision to break Infiniti away from its Nissan roots.   The G35 series helped re-define Infiniti as the "Japanese BMW".  This reputation has been enhanced by the FX SUV, and the redesigned M35 / M45 for the [[2006]] model year.  The M  has already garnered impressive acclaim from the automotive press, winning an eight-car comparison test in [[Car and Driver]], and has proven very popular in its first few months of sales.
+Today, Infiniti's sales and reputation continue to increase impressively as Carlos Ghosn follows through on his vision to break Infiniti away from its Nissan roots.   The G35 series helped re-define Infiniti as the "Japanese BMW", an image it continues to cultivate.  This reputation has been enhanced by the FX35/FX45 SUV, and the redesigned M35/M45 for the [[2006]] model year.  The M35/M45  has already garnered impressive acclaim from the automotive press, winning an eight-car comparison test in [[Car and Driver]], and has proven very popular in its first few months of sales.
 ==Models==